Monday, April 07, 2008

Given that most of the RNC protest activity is likely to be in St. Paul, one can't help but be disturbed by the following. We all want this to come off well, but let's not kid ourselves that the potential for harm comes from both sides of the aisle. Mitch has pooh-pooh'ed the idea that there are thugs on the right who are as willing to incite violence against the unwashed leftists, but the following exchange on KTLK during Chris Baker's show Friday should put an end to that talk. During this locally-produced show on Friday (audio link below), there were the expected swipes at the St. Paul Police Department, a call to "crack a few skulls" and "hand out axe handles," and the usual insults aimed at those who exercise their First Amendment rights. But then near the end is a call for Mr. Baker's special brand of action in controlling the demonstrators:

"So we've been talking about police protection during the upcoming convention when all those stinky protesters are coming. There seems to be a big debate over whether or not police officers will be able to wear helmets, carry shields, use pepper spray and tasers on this crowd. You know, I'll tell you what works on a crowd like this--a machine gun, that always works very well."

"Mow 'em down, baby!" excitedly adds Baker's co-host "Jordan".

DG again: Colleen Rowley wrote about this literal call to arms yesterday and ends her commentary about the radio show with these words: "Speaking for the coalition to march on the RNC, we who oppose the Iraq War are NOT fools, traitors, enemies or even stinky protesters. If all the pro-war radio talk show hosts want to keep denouncing us that way, that's fine. But please note: your mentor, Hermann Goering, advised to 'just denounce the pacifists'--he didn't say you had to machine gun them down."